This may not become part of the city after all, or at least cost a lot of extra money for it to be.
Suit aims to block city's expansion
By Mary Lynne Vellinga - mlvellinga@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, October 25, 2007
Local environmental groups Wednesday sued to stop the city of Sacramento from annexing 577 acres of North Natomas farmland west of the city limits for 3,500 homes.
The Environmental Council of Sacramento and Friends of the Swainson's Hawk filed a lawsuit against the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission, which oversees annexations. Also joining the Superior Court lawsuit were three individuals.
The plaintiffs allege that LAFCO erred in September when it certified the environmental review for the proposed Greenbriar development and allowed the city of Sacramento to take the land into its sphere of influence – the first step toward annexation.
Don Lockhart, LAFCO assistant executive officer, said Wednesday he had just received the complaint and hadn't had time to review it. "I don't really have anything to say at this time," he said.
Greenbriar project manager Phillip R. Serna said he wasn't surprised by the lawsuit. "That's what these folks seem to do for a living is challenge projects, even projects that have been characterized as smart growth ... transit friendly," he said.
Sacramento has pushed the Greenbriar project as a logical extension of the city, and a crucial link in eventually obtaining federal funding to extend light rail to the airport.
